Happy Tuesday, Dear Listener!

May your month of May be off to a grand start! I've unfortunately been quite sick, which comes as little surprise considering my almost one-year-old roommate is the most adorable petri dish.

When those little ones cough directly in your face, you know the clock is tick tick tickin’! This particular bug has truly knocked me sideways—it's been absolutely debilitating. I've been prioritizing rest to ensure I'm fully recovered before our Spring Mixer and I bop away to Cannes next week.

On the bright side, I finally sound like Scarlett Johansson.

Something that's been on my mind lately is how differently we're equipping our sons versus our daughters for emotional success. While we've made tremendous strides in empowering girls (girls in STEM! body positivity! leadership training!), we've collectively dropped the ball on giving boys the emotional toolkit they desperately need.

These recurring thoughts coupled with Netflix’s powerful series Adolescence prompted this compelling episode of The Sun Dial with Rebecca Sun.

As mamas to boys under the age of 2, we were moved to dissect raising children—particularly boys—in today's digital landscape.

Afterall, I am old enough to remember the good ol days of dial up internet and AOL.

We're raising boys in a culture that still measures their worth by how much money they make or how many people they hook up with. Meanwhile, we're not investing nearly enough in teaching them that their value exists independent of these outdated metrics. The contrast is stark—girls have benefited from decades of intentional programming aimed at boosting their confidence, while boys are largely left to figure it out from Joe Rogan podcasts and whatever corners of the internet they stumble into.

It’s terrifying.

Speaking of stumbling, production insiders are speculating that LA could become “the new Detroit" if we don't adapt to changing economic forces. Both cities built on single industries, both facing existential threats when those industries contract.

What happens when Hollywood's middle class— the people who actually make things—can no longer afford to live here? As a parent raising a kid in LA, this hits particularly hard.

These aren't just abstract economic questions. They're deeply personal ones about the kind of community we want our children to grow up in, and whether that community will even exist in ten years.

Rebecca Sun is a journalist and editor. Her bylines have also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Esquire China and New York. Most recently, she was the senior editor of diversity and inclusion at The Hollywood Reporter.

HIGHLIGHT EPISODE

Michele Miller recently stopped by the show to discuss the sexy and crucial world of production tax incentives. With over a decade of experience, Michele uses GreenSlate's innovative tools to help producers, new and seasoned, navigate the tax incentive maze and keep more money in our projects.

Buy her coffee. Or wine. Make her your best friend!

Tune in as we break down the differences between tax rebates, refundable tax credits, and transferable tax credits.

_TAKEAWAYS

✔️ Production incentives offer financial benefits that can make or break a project’s bottom line.

✔️ Michele breaks down the three main types of incentives: rebates, refundable tax credits, and transferable tax credits—explaining how each works, what to watch out for, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

✔️ The importance of preparation and documentation: From residency forms to vendor certificates, having your paperwork in order from day one is critical.

✔️ Why partnering with a knowledgeable payroll company and tax incentive specialist is essential for indie and seasoned producers.

✔️ Practical advice on budgeting, cash flow, and timeline expectations—plus insights on uplifts for diversity and post-production.

As always, thanks for doing this life thing with me!

UPCOMING HAPPENINGS

_{Join us for our Spring Mixer days before I jet off to Cannes!} 

RSVP Here